The Veneer On Venice Beach

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Published: October 28, 2006

Visitor Comments: 18

(18) Donald, October 11, 2007 11:51 AM

I Empathize Completely, but...

I completely empathize with this denial of the installation of an eruv around the Jewish community of Venice Beach, CA.

However, what would HaShem prefer, (a) Jews who are satisfied, and comfortable, with their living conditions in the galut - with an eruv of course, or, (b) Yehudim/Yisraelim realizing, that to live in the galut is a compromise, at best, and that the ultimate Torah solution, is to make aliyah.

Personally, I think HaShem is making things increasingly uncomfortable for Yehudim in the galut - especially the Observant - so that they will return to Ha Eretz.

Just my 1/4 shekel's worth of an opinion.

(17) BenGeiger, November 3, 2006 10:51 AM

Thanks from the Venice Community

Dear Rabbi Salomon,

On behalf of the Venice Beach Community, I would like to thank you for your encouraging and forthright support of our cause. It is always nice to know that we as Jews never stand alone.

Sincerely,
Ben Geiger
Rabbi
Pacific Jewish Center

(16) Margarita, November 2, 2006 5:31 AM

hard question

it's very hard question to answer if the whole thing with the opposition to eruv can be blamed on anti-semitism. i think it's a part of the problem, not the whole problem. i have to agree with the comment about how different things would be if it wouldn't be about Jews, the decision would be most likely in favour to put eruv and therefore it's about anti-semitism.
on the other hand, it's hard to blame people who love their livestyle for resiting to change. unfortunately one minute it's not a problem to let people to do what they want, next minute women are get assolted on the beach (mostly by lebaneese muslims, like it happened in sydney australia, and it ends up in riots). i think that lots of people are too lazy to know the difference between bearded men and covered women (Jews and others). it's easier to oppose everything.

(15) HowardW., November 1, 2006 8:14 PM

NO ANTI-SEMITISM HERE

Rabbi,

Unfortunately you've been drawn in by the press reports about this subject, forgetting Marbeh devarim, Marbeh Hate.

Reporters have to write, but seldom get it straight, and usually they just bring harm.

There is NO ANTISEMITISM involved in the permit process for the Venice Eruv. I know. I've spent 11 years on the Los Angeles Eruv and its permit requirements. I designed the LA Eruv, spent years getting the needed permits, and worked with the city, state and federal governments to get it built. EVERY SINGLE government official has been helpful and respectful. Many have bent over backwards to help us find solutions. Once these righteous people understood that an Eruv was a lift in our service of Hashem they have moved mountains to get it built.

Today, California is an extremely friendly place to build the most stringent of Eruvim.

The coastal commission has specific concerns, but is working closely with the Eruv team here to work out acceptable solutions. They are friendly, have given us a fair hearing, and they are interested in making it work out. To slam people as haters or anti semites, is wrong, it's slanderous. It's destructive, and frankly its just not true. Please pull this mean spirited commentary from the site, it doesn't reach your lofty standards.

(14) TovaSaul, October 31, 2006 8:01 PM

surely there must be another solution

People yearn for pristine beaches, and then mess them up with manmade clutter and claptrap. Every added manmade object on a beach diminishes its natural beaty. Metal poles and streamers are unsightly. Period. Why can't they be put on the boardwalk itself? Better yet, isn't the ocean considered a barrier? In Pittsburgh, the river is a barrier. And, fishing line is notorious for injuring wildlife in the air and in the sea. These 70 Jewish families should stop making a fuss. Hire a babysitter, take turns watching the baby, etc.

(13) Barbara, October 31, 2006 3:30 PM

I'm Christian and I can recognize anti-semitism becoming all too frequent in our country -- may God open our eyes to see where we're heading before it's too late! How long will be able to worship Him openly?

(12) Alex, October 30, 2006 7:37 PM

Most respectfully, non-Jews are entitled to oppose eruv.

Dear Rabbi Salomon. Most respectfully, I think the 70 "orthodox" Jews wishing to erect poles and string fishing line with reflector tape hanging from it along the otherwise free and open view along the Venice Beach should back off. They asked. They were turned down.
First, it seems to me we must remember we are simply guests in this host non-Jewish homeland; guest who enjoy at all the freedom we do, and pay taxes for that freedom, but still guests all the same. It seems to me to chuzpadik for 70 individuals (Jews or not) to want to make an issue over the other residents not wanting to have poles and fishing line along "their" beach. How would you feel if the Zoastrians (if such a group exists) wanted to put a similar pole up on one of your back yard fence and string a fishing line on top of it across your view? You could be generous or you could simply be selfish and that would be your right. Even if your decision was influenced by some negative thoughts your harboured about Zoastrians.
Secondly, I've been to that beach and that synagogue. It fronts on the very busy Venice Beach beachfront walk, usually filled with rollerblading, walking, and or jogging inidivuals in various stages of undress.
Seems to me the problem can better be solved by moving the synagogue to a more appropriate location which in turn would lend itself better to having it including within an eruv that would not be an issue.
But to make an issue out of this; to have it in the LA Times; to put it out there for public (and ignorant people to) debate, is short sighted and selfish of these 70 beach-going Shabbos Jews. Does it not verge on a Chillul Hashem?
At least thats the way it struck me.

(11) Anonymous, October 30, 2006 1:48 AM

Why are Jews in Venice Beach?

I usually love your video clips, but this one was disturbing. These Jews, and others who feel their religious practices are being attacked by antisemitism should wake up and smell the flowers - it's time to leave Venice Beach and every other city in the US and come to Israel - Eretz Hakodesh where you can build an eruv anyplace. You do not belong in the Diaspora - you must go HOME before antisemitism in the US gets so bad you won't be allowed to leave. Something to think about.

(10) Julie, October 29, 2006 7:15 PM

Don't Forget The Secular Jews Fighting It Too!

I would just bet there are quite a lot of secular Jews who are behind this anti eruv controversy too. They don't want a religious Jewish presence out in full force around there, and I know there are a LOT of secular Jews in that neighborhood and all up the coast.

Another issue: Antisemitism? Well, what do you expect? Is Los Angeles home for Jews? Nope. Do Jews belong there? Nope. Will non-Jews help Jews to understand where they truly belong, sometimes through painful means? Yep, every time. THAT'S one reason why there is antisemitism.

(9) Anonymous, October 29, 2006 5:19 PM

Not everything bad that happens to Jews is antisemitism

I live not far from Venice, and I don't know this exact situation, but I doubt it is antisemitism. Those people are against cell phone towers, too, and anything that will change the look of the area. They are just mistreating the Jews equally.

(8) DianeFaberVeitzer, October 29, 2006 2:07 PM

this is not anti-semitism

Dear Rabbi Solomon,

I have davened at the Pacific Jewish Center's "shul on the beach" many times over the past decade, and I celebrate the uniqueness of this particular shul and the niche it fills within the Jewish community. I also have many dear friends who daven there regularly, and who have raised beautiful families there; it is a community known for its chessed, its successful outreach and its commitment to Torah Im Derech Eretz. I also appreciate the liberation which comes to a family with wheelchair-bound members or small children when an eruv is constructed. Hatzlacha to the Shul on the Beach in its efforts.

I believe your piece is misleading, however, when you say these Jews should be allowed to "maintain" their Jewish practice -- this word "maintain" skews the argument to add sympathy to one side, while veering away from the facts. The Shul on the Beach has never had an eruv (to my knowledge), and the community has succeeded and survived without it for many decades, just as many orthodox communities worldwide do without one (and of course, many observant Jews chose not to use the eruv in cities which have one, and manage to live rich and rewarding lives as Jews). The Jewish families who live there moved there knowing that there was no eruv, and without any reasonable expectation that one would be constructed. It is thus not, as you say, an ongoing practice which is sought to be "maintained" by the community, but rather a new proposal by a group of 70 local families to make a new, visible and permanent change in the entire beachgoing public's experience of the beach.

As with any public space, it is appropriate for there to be administrative hearings and for due process to be followed in such a case, and for various interest groups to express their views -- and I'm sure if it was the desire to have an Islamic fundamentalist group post something permanent along the beachfront, you would agree wholeheartedly. The fishing line and the birds -- that wasn't concocted just to keep Jews from shul, it is one of an array of wildlife issues raised constantly by environmental groups in this part of California, whether you are a major corporate developer building condos and office parks or a single family homeowner wanting to add another story to your house, and if it's not birds, it's snails or some other creature no visitor ever noticed -- but it's hardly anti-Semitism. And most ordinary citizens are concerned about the miles of 20 foot poles that would hold up the eruv up and down Venice boardwalk, not the invisible fishing line.

Baruch Hashem, we live in a constituional democracy where these conflicting interests can be resolved in an orderly fashion. Los Angeles County has already enabled several Jewish communities to use public land to construct an eruv in several different locations, spanning many miles of fishing line, over a variety of objections; I think it is a leap to call the voicing of environmental or view impedence concerns about this one "anti-semitism" when there is a unique natural resource involved, and where the concerns being raised are similar to those being raised for all projects on or near the beach.

I fear it dilutes the true charge of anti-Semitism when we cry "anti-Semitism" every time Jews are required to go through the same due process as everyone else.

I share your desire for this small but charming Jewish landmark community to continue to thrive for years to come, and will follow the story with interest until its outcome.

(7) Almaz, October 29, 2006 1:58 PM

Eruv

Yes just so happen to be a Jew of Colour and I know FULL well when someone is talking about environment and something else. Now I wonder if it were MUSLIMS wanting to put up something similiar if they had these laws of Shabbat I am QUITE Sure that this would have been a totally different story with the City Fathers Movers and Shakers and Pushers and Shovers all wanting a Photo-op with the Muslims who built their whatever.

Go figure

(6) Anonymous, October 29, 2006 1:24 PM

what about Jews who act against Jews?

I hope the good people of Venice Beach get their eiruv. It makes life so much easier and more pleasant. But at least it's non-Jews that there that are acting against us. In Israel some things (like eiruvs) are easy. But other things are made more and more difficult for those who are shomrei mitzvot (religiously observant.) Until we learn to work together and respect one another, HaShem is going to keep sending us tests and challenges, of which the Venice Beach thing is a minor one.

(5) susan, October 29, 2006 1:08 PM

you're right

Dear Rabbi Salomon,

You're absolutely right but it's not just Venice Beach. Didn't Tenafly just have the same problem a year or two ago? Why doesn't Michael Medved help them? He used to daven there. Also - here's another shande. I live in LA and the LA Jewish Journal hasn't mentioned a thing about it.

(4) Anonymous, October 29, 2006 12:22 PM

above ground utilities

Do the people of Venice Beach have above groung utilities?...if not I can see where some of their objection comes from...if they do well it is odd to oppose a project like this.The lack of an erev make it difficult for some but not impossible to enjoy Shabbos.

(3) Anonymous, October 29, 2006 11:24 AM

How about this?

On a block in my neighborhood some non religious people objected to an eruv because it would be a fire hazaard! Yes, a fire hazzard!
How's that?
You see, they said that they feared that should there be a fire and a hook and ladder would be coming down the block. Then perhaps the ladder up high would get blocked by the fishing line, and that would prevent the truck from getting to the fire.
What do you say to that?

(2) Daniela, October 29, 2006 10:25 AM

Wait just a minute here !

I know anti-semitism when I see it. This tirade is a knee-jerk reaction to not being able to do something that people who truly otherwise do not give a rat's behind don't want. I'm sorry, but in this case you're exaggerating ! Besides the fact that I've never understood a private domain being made out of a space that includes a commercial area, as Venice Beach is along the coastline, if half the residents of an area don't want to see bright steamers dotted along an area they are used to seeing in a certain way and care about seeing it that way, there's nothing anyone can say except, well, it's up to them after all, since you have to get permission from the owners of land that you want to put the Eruv around, let's go home. I realize it's a pain for people who can't take their kids out or use their wheelchairs outside, but aren't we being a little spoiled here ? How have Jews dealt with this in the past ?? What about places where there are no viable boundaries to make an Eruv at all ? What, just because we're in America if someone doesn't want something they see as unsightly it automatically means they hate us and it's solely out of spite ? You're talking about Venice Beach surfer dudes for G-d's sake ! Half the residents don't care one way or the other, what about them ? And by the way, it's also an exaggeration that they're all "up in arms". The coastal commission and a few residents have voiced their opinion and simply said no. Please don't make a mountain out of a molehill - there are more serious examples of anti-semitism than this. The frum of Venice Beach are just going to have to deal with not having an Eruv, or come up with a better solution for the birds that doesn't involve making the skyline of the beach look like someone neglected to clean up after a party. Sensitivity about a beach not looking like a garbage dump does not amount to anti-semitism.

(1) Rivkah, October 29, 2006 10:23 AM

Eruv YES Venice Beach?

I am not so sure that I agree anti semitism is the issue at hand here. I would tread very carefully jumping to call it that. My question about this issue is why does the Eruv run to the beach, VENICE BEACH which is quite possibly the most un Shabbosdik place a frum yid would want to be on Shabbos.

Eruv YES YES YES, perhaps an alternative location would be better suited, include the shul but don't run the line along the beach front if possible.

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